FR2706742A1 - Ski boot with lower-leg bearing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

Alpine ski boot including an adjustable bearing device for the skier's lower leg, on a front part of the upper. The alpine ski boot (1) consists of a shell (2), the base (3) of which is surmounted by an upper (4) including a front cover piece (6) and at least one rear cover piece (5), the said boot shell (2) being padded on the inside with a flexible bootee (inner boot) (9) encasing the foot and surmounted by an upper, a front wedge (11) of which, associated with the front cover piece (6), includes a bearing plate (13). This bearing plate (13) is held on the front wedge (11) by means of an external strut (12) which passes through a loop (15) with which the wedge (11) is provided, in the vicinity of the upper part of the upper (4) in the bearing zone of the skier's tibia (shin). The bearing plate (13) has a curved shape and is produced with an off-centre aperture (14) which, interacting with the loop (15), is capable of assuming four different assembly positions of the bearing plate (13).

Description

SKI BOOT WITH AVEG LEG SUPPORT PLATE
The present invention relates to an alpine ski boot generally constituted by a shell whose base is surmounted by a rod consisting of a rear cover and a front cover, at least one of them being articulated to allow the introduction of a skier's foot.

 Such a shoe is generally padded with an internal liner, a rear wedge of which is associated with the rear cover, and a front wedge of which, which may consist of a foldable tongue, is associated with the front cover.

 In this type of shoe, the tightening in closure is effected by action on at least one of the hoods on the other, by means of known tightening means such as tensioning levers, hooks, etc. ., and in particular using an external support strap for the lower leg of a skier.

 This strap is retained in a loop and is disposed near the upper part of the rod in the tibial support area of the skier on the front wedge or tongue.

 In order to distribute the support pressures of the skier's tibia on the front of the boot, it is known to interpose between a part of the leg and the strap or any other equivalent tightening means, a support plate and / or distribution of efforts, the essential role of which is to avoid punctual compressions which cause discomfort, painful points, or even small injuries such as blisters.

 Such a distribution plate constitutes a certain element of comfort, but it cannot be total if the morphology of the leg, which differs from one skier to another, is not taken into account.

 In fact, a distribution plate placed too high or too low, or even too far to the right or too far to the left, can reduce the same aforementioned drawbacks.

 This is the case, for example, of the device described in Swiss patent no. 528 234 in which the distribution plate is fixedly fixed to one of the clamping tabs acting in closure on a front opening zone of the shoe allowing the introduction of the foot.

 In addition, according to this example, the plate being fixed by its lower part only, it can follow an angular pivoting resulting in a change in the position of the plate, initially chosen by the skier.

 Italian patent No. 1162 170 shows another embodiment of a distribution plate, in which a relatively narrow plate on which a loop is formed, to be inserted on a tightening strap of the lower leg.

 As before, no means of adjustment for adapting to the morphology of the skier has been envisaged, and moreover, the position of the plate relative to the strap is unstable because the passer-by is much wider than the strap, and it would be illusory to assert that this makes it possible to obtain a reliable vertical adjustment of the plate.

 We can also cite European patent n "351 396 which intends to solve the same type of problem by associating the front cover of the shoe with the front wedge of the bootie, by means of a strap passing through a passer-by coming from the front wedge prominently with respect to the cover through which it passes, said cover thus being trapped by the passage of the strap.

 If such means allow the front support of the shoe to be stiffened by seeking a more intimate connection of a relatively flexible front wedge compared to a relatively rigid front cover, it would in any case not be possible to assimilate the front cover to a plate distribution, especially since it is well known to provide such a connection by other equivalent means.

 The present invention aims to remedy the various aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to an alpine ski boot consisting of a shell whose base is surmounted by a rod consisting of a rear cover and a front cover, at at least one of them being articulated with respect to the other and with respect to the shell base by means of at least one transverse axis, said shoe shell being padded internally by a flexible liner enveloping the foot and surmounted on the one hand, by a rear wedge associated with the rear cover of the upper of the shoe, and on the other hand, by a front wedge associated with the front cover and which may be formed, but not necessarily, by a folding tongue , said rear and front wedges cooperating with each other to ensure the closure of an opening for introducing said liner by clamping action of at least one of the rod covers on the other, in particular by means of iron known method such as tensioning levers, hooks, etc., and / or an external strap for holding the lower leg of a skier, retained in a passer-by, and arranged on the one hand near the upper part of the rod in the tibial support zone of said skier on the front wedge, whether or not constituted by a tongue, and acting on the other hand in clamping on the lower leg by means of a support plate and of distributing the pressures of the tibia, in connection with the strap, characterized in that the support plate includes its own means for adjusting its relative positioning relative to a front part of the rod, hence the skier's tibia .

 These adjustments may relate to a positioning of the support plate made more or less upwards, or more or less to the right, or to the left relative to the tibia.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics thereof will be highlighted with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, illustrating, by way of nonlimiting example, how the invention can be performed and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ski boot provided with an effort support plate according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoe of a different type provided with a support plate according to FIG. 1.

 FIG. 3 is a detail view in section and on an enlarged scale of the anterior zone of the upper of the shoe according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

 Figure 4 is a perspective view of a foldable tongue isolated from a boot of the shoe according to Figures 1 to 3, showing the attachment of the support plate corresponding to a first embodiment.

 FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views, showing respectively in high and low positions, a support plate according to FIG. 4.

 Figures 7 and 8 show respectively, on an enlarged scale, a support plate for the left shoe, and another for the right shoe, according to an alternative embodiment of said plate can take four different positions.

 Figures 9 and 40 are sectional views, respectively along lines IX-IX and X-X of Figures 7 and 8.

 Figure II is a perspective view of a shoe in which the support plate is interposed between a tongue and a front cover of the shoe.

 Figure 12 is a perspective view of a shoe provided with a support plate according to Figure 11, but adapted to a different type of shoe.

 FIG. 13 is a detail view in section and on an enlarged scale of the anterior zone of the upper of the shoe according to FIGS. 14 and 12.

 Figure 14 is a perspective view of a shoe in which the support plate is arranged on the front cover.

 FIG. 15 is a detail view in section and on an enlarged scale of the anterior zone of the upper of the shoe according to FIG. 14.

 Figure 16 is a perspective view in which the distribution plate is arranged on the front wedge.

 FIG. 17 is a detail view in section and on an enlarged scale of the anterior zone of the upper of the shoe according to FIG. 16.

 FIG. 18 is a detail view in section and on an enlarged scale of the anterior zone of the upper of a shoe, according to a variant of the shoe of FIG. 16.

 The ski boot 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a boot with rear entry, and is generally made up of a shell 2, the base 3 of which is surmounted by a rod 4 made up of a rear cover 5 and of a front cover 6, these being respectively articulated with respect to each other and with respect to the shell base, by means of two transverse axes respectively 7 and 8.

 The shell 2 is padded in a known manner by a flexible liner 9 enveloping the foot and surmounted on the one hand, by a rear wedge 10 associated with the rear cover 5, and on the other hand, by a front wedge II associated with the cover before 6.

 The rear wedges 10 and front 41 cooperate with one another to ensure the closure of an opening for introducing the liner 9, by clamping action on the covers 5 and 6, by means of known closing means 50 such as levers tensioners, hooks, etc ..., and / or an external strap 12 for holding the lower leg of the skier.

 According to the invention, a pressure distribution support plate 13 is arranged in an adjustable manner in the upper part of the rod 4, in the tibial support zone of the skier on the front wedge 11, constituted in this case by a tongue 11A.

 Still according to the example of FIG. 1, also illustrated by the detail figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the means for adjusting the support plate 13 are constituted by a lumen 14 formed therein asymmetrically. in the vertical axial direction XX ′, and able to cooperate with the passer-by 15 of the strap 12 which passes through it and which is formed on an upper part of one of the constituent elements of the rod, ie the tongue 11A and to be made captive thereof by through the strap 12 passing through the passer-by 15 after placing said plate 13 on it, so as to allow at least one vertical axial adjustment in two positions A or B, by inverting the plate 13 on it- even, in order to vary the height of the tibial support grips according to the needs of the skier and his morphology.

 This is particularly clearly visible in Figures 5 and 6 where it appears that from one position to another the plate 13 can vary in height by a value "d".

 The shoe 1A represented in FIG. 2 essentially differs from the previous one in that it is of the so-called "mixed" type, that is to say which opens on the front and on the rear. In the present case, the front cover 6 is constituted by the extension of a transverse flap for closing the top of the shell 2, which flap is closed using means such as hooks 50. With regard to the rear cover 5, it remains articulated 7 in the heel area.

Figures 7 and 8 show a variant of the invention in that the light 14 formed in the support plate is also asymmetrical in the transverse axial direction so as to also offer the possibility of obtaining a lateral adjustment in two positions by inverting the plate intended for the right foot with that intended for the left foot and vice versa, with or without reversal on itself, along the vertical axis; this possibility of lateral adjustment of the tibial support has the effect of accentuating the support of the skier on the upper of the boot, in front bending, in a more or less lateral direction, and therefore allowing the internal edge grips to be varied of the ski, depending on whether the widest side solid parts L of the plate face inward, or vice versa the narrowest parts I. It results from this arrangement of the lumen 14 that each support plate 13, 14 , right or left, is likely to occupy four different mounting positions ABCD or
A'B'C'D ', by inversion and / or inversion, and therefore to provide four possibilities of adjustment of the tibial support of the skier.

 Figures 9 and 10 show that preferably the support plates 13, right or left, are tiled so as to substantially match the curve of the front part of the lower leg in the area of the tibia.

 As shown in Figures 4 to 10, the lumen 14 formed in the support plate 13 is of quadrangular shape, in which is adapted to register the outer contour of the passer-by 15 so as to offer great resistance to transverse forces while by ensuring its maintenance in the axis of the tibia.

 According to the embodiments described above and corresponding to Figures 1 to 10, the front wedge of the liner being constituted by a foldable tongue 11A, the passer-by is produced near the free end thereof on an outer face d 'a semi-rigid wall intended to receive a padding material on its internal face and forming an integral part of the liner; the support plate 13 is placed on said passer-by 15, the height of which is determined to provide sufficient passage for the insertion of the strap consecutively.

 The variant embodiment of FIG. 1 1 differs essentially from the previous ones in that the folding tongue 1 1 A is disposed behind the front cover 6 of the rod 4 itself articulated, and includes a light 16 similar to that of the plate 14 of support 13 from which is capable of opening the passer-by 15 after having previously passed through said plate 13 to receive the strap 12 situated between the outgoing part of the passer-by of the tongue and the external face of the front cover visible in FIG. 13.

 The difference between shoe 1B of this figure II and that lc of figure 12 which follows, resides exclusively by the fact that the first lB is with entry by the rear like that of figure 1, while the second 1C is with front entrance.

 According to another variant of the shoe 1D represented in FIGS. 14 and 15, the passer-by 15 is produced on the external face of the front cover 6 of the rod 4 in its upper part, and is crossed by the strap 12 after external application of the support plate 13 through its light 14.

 According to another variant of the shoe 1E shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the passer-by 15 is produced on the external face of the front wedge 11 of the liner 9, and successively receives the support plate 13 and the strap 12 in a indented area 17 of a front cover 6 or a cuff playing an equivalent role.

 In the latter case illustrated by FIG. 18, the passer-by 15 is produced on the outer face of the front wedge 11 of the liner 9, and successively receives the support plate 13 and the strap 12 after having passed through a front cover 6, or a cuff playing an equivalent role.

 In the example of FIGS. 16 to 18, the shoe lE is of the mixed type with rear entry and the rear and front covers 5 and 6 are articulated on the shell base 2 around a single axis 8.

 It should also be noted that such a plate according to the invention offers the advantage not only of distributing ~ the tibial bearing pressures as already mentioned, but also of being able to obtain, by raising said plate upwards, a bearing zone higher, and thus greater support during transmission of effort and adjustable according to the needs of the skier.

 In the high position, a shoe is therefore obtained whose behavior is more suited to the practice of ski racing, and, on the other hand, in the low position of the same plate, the shoe will have a more tolerant behavior, or even better suited, for skiing. for example.

 It is thus created an easy adjustment device by simple disassembly of the strap, then inversion and / or inversion of the support plate, and which optionally allows a replacement in the event of deterioration thereof, or else to adapt a stiffer or more flexible plate depending on the desired result.

 Another advantage conferred by the device according to the invention resides in the fact that in the case of a shoe whose front wedge is in fact a folding tongue, as illustrated in the figures from 4 to 13, the latter is advantageously retained relative to the front cover, via the passer and the strap, and it is thus remedied the possibility of escape of the tongue towards the inside of the shoe, during the introduction of the foot.

 This advantage avoids the skier having to retain said tongue manually when putting on.

 It is understood that the invention may be adapted to ski boots having basic structures substantially different from those described, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention; for example, the boots may have parts of the upper, front and rear hoods, which are adjustable on the lower leg of the skier simply by means of the tightening strap 12 without the closing means 50.

Claims (9)

 1) Alpine ski boot (1 to E) constituted by a shell (2) whose base (3) is surmounted by a rod (4) consisting of a rear cover (5) and a front cover (6 ), at least one of them being articulated with respect to the other and with respect to the shell base, by means of at least one transverse axis (7, 8, 9), said shell (2 ) of a shoe being internally padded with a flexible boot (9) enveloping the foot, and surmounted on the one hand, by a rear wedge (10) associated with the rear cover (5) of the upper (4) of the shoe, and on the other hand, a front block (11) associated with the front cover (6) and which can be formed, but not necessarily, by a folding tongue (11A), said rear blocks (10) and front (11 or 11A) cooperating with each other to ensure the closure of an opening for introducing said liner by clamping action of at least one of the covers (5) of the rod (4) on the other (6), in particular by the intermediate of a strap (12) e xterior holding the lower leg of a skier, retained in a loop (15), and arranged on the one hand near the upper part of the rod (4) in the tibial support area of said skier on the wedge front (11), whether or not constituted by a tongue (11A), and acting on the other hand in clamping on the lower leg by means of a support plate (13) and pressure distribution of the tibia, in connection with the strap (12), characterized in that the distribution plate (13) has its own means (12, 14, 15) for adjusting its relative positioning relative to a front part of the rod (4), hence the skier's shin.  2) Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for adjusting the distribution plate (13) consist of a lumen (14) formed therein asymmetrically in the vertical axial direction (XX '), and able to cooperate with the loop (15) of the strap (12) which passes through it and which is formed on an upper part of one of the constituent elements of the rod, namely the front cover (6), the front wedge (11) or the tongue (11A) and be made captive thereof by means of the strap (12) passing through the passer-by (15) after placing said plate (13) thereon, so as to allow at least one adjustment vertical axial in two positions (A or B), by inverting the plate (13) on itself, in order to vary the height of the tibial support zones according to the needs of the skier and his morphology.  3) Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the light (14) formed in the support plate (13) is also asymmetrical in the transverse axial direction (YY '), so as to also offer the possibility of obtain a lateral adjustment according to two positions (CC 'or DD') by inverting the plate (13) intended for the right foot with that intended for the left foot and vice versa, with or without reversal on itself, along the vertical axis ( XX '), in order to vary the internal edge grips of the ski in a more or less significant manner, depending on whether the widest side solid parts (L) of the plate (13) are turned inward, or vice versa the narrowest parts (I), and thus obtain an adjustment of each distribution plate (13A) right or left according to two positions (AA ', BB') or four different positions (AA ', BB', CC ' , DD '), by inversion and / or inversion.  4) Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light (14) formed in the support plate (13) is of quadrangular shape, in which is adapted to register the outer contour of the passing (15) so as to offer great resistance to transverse forces while ensuring its maintenance in the axis of support of the tibia.  5) Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the front wedge (11) of the boot (9) being constituted by a foldable tongue (11A), the passer-by (15) is produced near the free end thereof on an external face of a semi-rigid wall intended to receive a padding material on its internal face and forming an integral part of the liner (9), the support plate (13) being placed place on said pass (15) with a passage thickness sufficient to allow the insertion of the strap (12) consecutively.  6) Shoe according to claim 5, characterized in that the folding tongue (1 lA) is disposed behind the front cover (6) of the rod (4) itself articulated (8) and has a light (16) similar to that (14) of the support plate (13) from which is capable of opening the loop (15) after having previously passed through said plate to receive the strap (12) located between the outgoing part of the loop (15) of the tongue (14) and the outer face of the front cover (6).  7) Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the passer (15) is formed on the outer face of the front cover (6) of the rod (4) in its upper part and is crossed by the strap (12) after external application of the support plate (13) via its light (14).  8) Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the passer (15) is formed on the external face of the front wedge (11) of the liner (9), and successively receives the support plate (13) and the strap (12), after passing through a front cover (6), or a cuff playing an equivalent role.  9) Shoe according to claim 8, characterized in that the loop (15) is formed on the outer face of the front wedge (11) of the liner (9), and successively receives the support plate (13) and the strap (12) in a notched area (17) of a front cover (6) or a cuff playing an equivalent role.